Cancer Registry Data Collection Flashcards

Which staging system is the primary standard used in US hospital cancer registries?

Answer: AJCC TNM Staging

The AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) TNM staging system is the universal standard used by US cancer registries to classify cancer extent.

In TNM staging, what does 'N0' indicate?

Answer: No regional lymph node involvement

N0 signifies that there is no evidence of regional lymph node metastasis at the time of staging.

How is the 'date of diagnosis' defined in cancer registry abstraction?

Answer: Date of the first positive histologic or cytologic confirmation of malignancy

The date of diagnosis is the date of the first definitive histologic or cytologic confirmation, as established by pathology report.

What constitutes 'first course of treatment' in cancer registry documentation?

Answer: All planned treatment given before disease progression or recurrence

First course of treatment encompasses all treatment modalities administered as part of the initial treatment plan, before disease progresses or recurs.

Which treatment modality is coded as 'radiation therapy' in cancer registry data?

Answer: Use of high-energy ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells

Radiation therapy uses high-energy ionizing radiation such as X-rays or gamma rays to damage and destroy cancer cells.

In cancer registry follow-up, what does 'lost to follow-up' mean?

Answer: The registry is unable to determine the patient's current vital status

'Lost to follow-up' means the registrar cannot locate the patient or obtain records to determine whether the patient is alive or deceased.

What is the purpose of recording 'survival time' in cancer registry data?

Answer: To measure the interval from diagnosis to death or last known contact for outcomes analysis

Survival time is the interval from diagnosis date to death or last known alive contact, enabling population-level survival and outcomes research.